By Connie Mitchell
(Published Nov 30, 2017)
When Kristin Seymour was 19, she flunked out of college. It was the pinnacle of a mountain of academic failures and disciplinary problems. Teachers thought she was simply trying to get attention, and she’d been pegged with learning disabilities, despite her near genius-level IQ. When Seymour came home to St. Louis, her parents yet again sought medical help, not knowing where else to turn.
Seymour’s pediatrician consulted a neurologist and a psychiatrist, and the three quickly agreed: Seymour’s was a classic case of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, also known as ADHD. Seymour recalls that she was limp with relief. “I was so happy to know this was not my fault,” she says. “I thank my parents for loving me enough to get doctors to evaluate me. Once I knew my ‘why,’ I could do the ‘how’ – how am I going to be a success?”
She subsequently figured it out. Once diagnosed, Seymour was appropriately medicated, and “the clarity that occurred within hours of this medication was fascinating,” she says. The diagnosis and treatment transformed Seymour into a straight-A student. She now has a string of letters behind her name that denote the multiple degrees and certifications she has earned and has more than 20 years of professional experience as a board-certified advanced-practice registered nurse, specializing in cardiac care.
Seymour also added authorship to her list of accomplishments with The Fog Lifted: A Clinician’s Victorious Journey With ADHD. She published the book in 2016 after being encouraged by physicians and friends to share her story.